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Copperberry

Shrub type: Coniferous (Stores water in its leaves)

This small shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for decades, with the oldest known specimen being around 148 years old. It is not very resistant to disease and destructive insect infestation.

It has several sturdy, curved stems covered in thin, rough, light brown bark, and the wood inside is black with white speckles.

The branches are tall, rigid and upright with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with very large amounts of tiny, spear shaped, leaves with tattered edges. The leaves themselves are olive and purple, tough and fuzzy.

In late spring it produces many balls of medium-sized, brown blossoms with broad, flat petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They detach easily and have a strong scent that smells like burning wood.

In early autumn large long, tapering fruits ripen. The sticky green skin is thin and sweet, and the very soft copper flesh is savoury and dry. The gold seed is small and sits at the top of the fruit.

It is suitable for making paper
Several parts of the fruit tree have medicinal properties.
It grows well in the sun and full shade.
The colour changes depends on whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.